A local artist with an open door policy at his gallery offers visitors more than the opportunity to buy art. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following story.

Artist Alex Beard is not afraid to spill a little ink for his guests.

Many artists hold special open studio events, but at Alex Beard's gallery in SoHo every day is an open studio. Visitors can come in and see Beard making his art.

“I have an open studio, because I draw energy from people who come in,” says Beard. “A lot of times as a painter, it's a very isolating life. So if you are alone in a studio for six months, you get squirrelly — or at least I get a little squirrelly. So I like having all different kinds of folks here all the time.”

Visitors can see the works on the gallery wall and works in progress.

“People always assume that you sort of sit down and you wait for the light bulb to go on and you have these inspirations and that's just hogwash. It's all about process. You’re sort of building layer upon layer upon layer,” says Beard.

And sometimes visitors aren't shy to offer advice.

“You get, Îoh that's almost a really good painting, but it would be so much better if you would add this little stroke of red,’” jokes Beard.

At Alex Beard's Studio, the artistic process is always on view, but on Saturdays Alex invites some unlikely art enthusiasts to join in.

On Saturdays kids can come and make art with Alex.

“I like to draw like flowers and things,” says one little participant.

“The idea is that you shouldn't be intimidated, especially when you walk into a gallery,” says Beard. “It’s an egalitarian medium. It's for everyone — and kids should be taught that from a very early age.”

Beard was born and raised in New York City. He lived in New Orleans for 15 years and returned to New York City after Katrina. He opened the gallery in October and has been welcoming all kinds of art lovers in ever since.

“Kids between the ages of two and 10 come in with their parents and the idea is to get your hands dirty,” says Beard.

Beard says his gallery is like his art: the more you look the more you find — and there is plenty to discover.

Now how about a little more black, right there?

— Stephanie Simon

Alex Beard Studio
77 Mercer Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 274-0326
www.alexbeardstudio.com